Abstract
The year 1989 saw consolidated advances in Laos especially within the economic sector, with many of the socio-economic reforms set in place since 1986 being further broadened. The number of private businesses and joint ventures increased markedly particularly within the capital city and the provincial towns of the more developed Mekong provinces. The year also saw the nascent development of tourism as the country for the first time since 1975 opened its doors to tourists in any significant number. The liberalization within the economic sector also generated pressures for changes within the political arena. Most important of these changes were the holding of local elections and the resurgence of interest on the promulgation of the constitution. These changes were both internally generated and also obviously in response to developments occurring within the rest of the socialist world, in particular in Eastern Europe. In the field of foreign relations, 1989 further saw the unfolding of substantially improved ties between Laos and the Western countries, particularly the United States, Japan, and France, as well as neighbouring Thailand. Also with the imminent settlement of the Kampuchean issue, relations with China were taken one step ahead.
Published Version
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